Keen hockey fans looking to get more bang for their puck should realise that in ice hockey, the understanding of the available options as well as the preparedness to put in comprehensive research are key. In hockey, you have quite a few betting options which include wagering on the correct score, the winner or even the number of goals. Then there is still the least familiar option, the points spread bet, one in which one team as to win with a specified number of goals and the bettor need to predict the overall number of goals.

Legal Sports Betting in the USA

Ice hockey is a thrilling, fast and even at times violent sport, great to wager on and with lots of international and league games taking place in Europe, Canada and North America it is one of the most exciting sports. Canadians love hockey and know how to put this love into real money online bets, while the US is as hooked on ice hockey since the NHL comprises of twenty-three teams from America and plus an additional seven from Canada. When it comes to legal sports betting in the USA and Canada, provinces in Canada can run sports betting lotteries. The criminal law in Canada section 207(4) (b) makes it clear that governments are permitted to run lotteries but cannot allow bets on single sporting events, while the Gaming Corporation and the Ontario Lottery does offer ProLine and sports betting, bettors need to wager on parlays and multiple events.

US Sports Betting Revolution Finally Set into Action

Sports betting enthusiasts might be disappointed that geographic limitation will still play a role in the US, and when it comes to online sports betting it might be a case of plug-and-play. Casinos largely depend on their partnerships with established third parties such as IGT and Scientific Games. Companies with years of online sports experience internationally are trusted to set up their online operations, which might minimise the learning curve, and several have traditional sports betting product just waiting in the wings.

With the US opening-up, the sports betting market many interesting options could await sports bettors in Nevada. What most bettors expect is that the infusion of sophistication and the increased competition will offer fuller in-play options in which wagering on games will be possible from your mobile while watching the gaming action in real play.

Future of Online Sports Betting in Canada and the US

The technological gap will close quickly in America after the Supreme Court ruling. It will set off a chain reaction of events that will most surely revolutionise the online sports betting industry in the US. Odds are that the Canadian sports betting market will play catch-up, but experts warn that sports enthusiasts should not expect that sports betting will be available everywhere any time soon.

The Career of Jonathon Toews

Jonathon Toews is one of the many Canadians who have become household names in the NHL over the past decade and he continues to play at a consistent level for the Blackhawks. With almost 800 NHL games under his belt, the 30-year old knows what it takes to perform day in-day out at this elite level.

Born in Manitoba, Toews began playing at an early age and is believed to have been just three years old when taking to the ice for the very first time. He skated on a daily basis which helped hone his talents and after impressing at high school, he represented the University of North Dakota where he amassed 85 points in 76 appearances and regularly caught the eye.

Life at the Chicago Blackhawks

It was the Blackhawks who decided to take a chance on this rising star and he was third overall in the 2006 Entry Draft. The Chicago side were blooding youngsters at the time and trying to reduce the average age of their side and Toews was one of a number of youthful additions to the squad.

He made an instant impact for the Blackhawks, scoring in his first appearance in October 2007 and continued his hot streak by claiming at least a point in each of his first ten games. A run which also consisted of five assists. He finished as the second highest team scorer that season and was runner-up in the Calder Memorial Trophy with teammate Patrick Kane taking top honours.

He was made assistant captain in just his second season in Chicago with his leadership qualities clearly impressing the coaching staff. At just 20-years old, he was installed as captain becoming the third youngest in the history of the NHL.

Leading by example, he was a firm fans favourite and was rewarded with a new six-year contract at the end of 2009.

Stanley Cup Success

Toews’ eye for goal helped his side reach the Stanley Cup Play-Offs for the first time since 2002 but despite a decent start, they were eliminated by the Detroit Red Wings in 2009 post-season showdown.

He completed a second career hat-trick during the 2010 Stanley Cup Play-Offs and his fine form continued as he helped the Blackhawks to their first Stanley Cup success since 1961. It took just six games to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers with Toews following in the footsteps of fellow-Canadian Sidney Crosby to become just the second youngest captain to lift the prestigious trophy.

Another Stanley Cup victory was achieved in 2015 with Toews guiding his side to a victory over Tampa Bay Lightning. It was a third Stanley Cup triumph in six years for the Franchise and Toews had been a major figure in each of those successes.

In 2017, he was named amongst the NHL’s 100 greatest players.

International Career

He made his International debut in 2007 at the World Championships after playing just two years of college hockey and he was still on the verge of turning professional at this point. No other Canadian had been victorious in both the World Championship and World Junior Championship up until this point.

He has also enjoyed success at the 2014 Winter Olympics, picking up a gold medal and he also represented Team Canada at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He scored just a single goal during their success at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver but did clock up eight points throughout the competition which was more than any of his team-mates.

The Glittering Career of Sidney Crosby

There are a plethora of NHL stars who have hailed from Canada over the last twenty years but very few can match the achievements of Sidney Crosby. Born in Nova Scotia, Crosby was always destined to be a star of the game after impressing at junior level and he also hailed from a sports-mad family. His father was a goaltender for Montreal Canadiens and following a modest career, he was seemingly keen for his son to go one step further. During his junior career, he excelled and became the youngest ever player to score in the World Junior Championships. He was making a name for himself and attracting admiring glances from a number of NHL teams.

He was picked up in the 2005 draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins, selected as their first overall choice. They put their faith in a youngster from Canada and it paid dividends.

Early Life at the Pittsburgh Penguins

His debut season saw him amass 102 points despite being given limited time on the ice and he was also dubbed one of the league’s best young players by a number of media outlets.

He continued to excel and during his second season in Pittsburgh he managed to secure the Art Ross Trophy following an impressive haul of 120 points during the regular season. The silverware kept on coming with the Hart Memorial Trophy also secured. He was also deemed the MVP which completed a truly remarkable breakthrough season for the Canadian.

Captaincy

In May 2007, Crosby was installed as captain after playing just 165 games for his side. He initially rejected the offer four months earlier as he didn’t believe he was ready for the responsibility. He was just 19 years and 297 days old when he finally accepted the role, making him the youngest ever NHL captain, beating the previous record by 27 days.

Despite missing a handful of games due to injury, he led his side to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals where they were defeated by the Detroit Red Wings. A 2-1 defeat at the Mellon Arena was a significant blow and they weren’t able to recover in time for game six.

Crosby finally got his hands on the Stanley Cup just twelve months later when guiding his side to success during the 2009 season. They avenged last year’s defeat by beating the Red Wings in seven games with Crosby becoming the youngest captain in the history of the NHL to lift the trophy. He scored 51 goals during the course of the season and added yet more silverware to his ever-increasing collection.

Injury Problems

It hasn’t all been plain sailing for Crosby who has suffered a number of injuries during the subsequent seasons. Concussion left him side-lined for the start of the 2011-12 campaign after he had previously missed out on the 2010-11 play-offs following a blow to the head.

Despite missing a large chunk of the campaign, he still finished as the team’s leading scorer, amassing 66 points during his 41 appearances.

International Career

As well as embarking on a hugely successful club career, Crosby has also represented his country on numerous occasions. He played a major role in Canada’s 2010 success at the Winter Olympics which were held in Vancouver. He netted a game-winning goal during a shoot-out with Switzerland to help catapult his side through to the next round and he also netted the decisive goal during overtime in the gold-medal winning game against the United States.

This is still regarded as one of Canada’s greatest sporting achievements.

In 2015, he captained Canada to success in the World Championships and helped his side bounce back from eight barren years in this competition. He scored four goals during the event and also claimed seven assists.

Hockey teams would not be the same without the young players. These young man sign entry-level contracts that keep them tied to the teams for at least 3 years. In this time they are supposed to develop their talent and then they will be ready to be promoted. Ideally, this cycle would be constant but this is not how it happens.

OLD IDEAS

Some organizations are stuck, as simple as that. They simply stay with what they consider familiar and do not move into new territories. This idea that the traditions should be kept are hurting the teams.

It is common to see the teams paying millionaire contracts for players that are not performing. They give them the franchise tag but the results do not match the team’s investment. Even if the fans express their concerns, the organizations are too stubborn to make the changes. This stubbornness will translate into poor results which is something you are trying to avoid by paying all those millions in the first place.

FRANCHISE TAG

At some point the organizations must ask themselves if the franchise tag is truly helping their case. The Montreal Canadiens put the tag on Carey Price. They signed the goaltender for more years but in the current season he took time off. The 14 games he missed hurt the standings of the Canadiens, although when he was defending, his record was poor.

By committing to these players only because they were stars at some point, the teams reduce the resources they could put somewhere else. The Canadiens need a change on their draft and yet the team keep on making the same mistakes.

SCOUTING

Teams like the Vancouver Canucks have amazing scouting teams. It is a known fact on the hockey community. They have a sharp eye for the outstanding players. Other organization also put some effort into finding the next stars.

The question is how to turn that great scouting into good results. Some players enter the organizations when they are barely 18. It is not until they are at least 22 that they reach their prime. Perhaps the team should start replacing players for rookies and try new strategies.

YOUNG TALENT

At 22 the players reach their prime. They are experienced enough to perform on a big stage but still have room for improvement. Some team owners see this group as the optimal draft and take advantage of the scouting. Other teams refuse to let the younger players take the ice. Eventually they must let those players since they are wasting that talent.

There are some clear advantages about younger players. They are healthier and less prone to injuries. On the financial aspect, it is cheaper to sign a younger player that a more experienced one. The lack of experience should not be a concern, these young men are more than willing to earn their places on the draft.

2019 could be the year when the NHL finally has some fresh faces on the ice.

No matter the sport, the teams must prepare for the upcoming seasons. A well-executed plan could be the difference between making it to the final and being stuck in the last place. The preparation has many steps and one of them is getting new talent. Eventually the star players will retire and give the opportunity to the rookies.

The 2017/2018 season has not been easy for some teams. Those that failed to meet the goals on this season have their eyes on the next one. They will not repeat the same mistakes and are ready to correct the issues.

EDMONTO OILERS

This team is working on a new roster. Young players like Kirill Maksimov joined the organization on an entry level. The three-year contracts are all signed and ready to go. The Canadian player will be 19 next summer, he is prospect that the Oilers do not want to let go.

Maksimov would not be on the ice next fall due to his age and inexperience. The Oilers want to work with him for some time first before giving him the green light. There are many expectations about this young player. Hopefully, he will see some game time in 2019.

OTTAWA SENATORS

The Senators recruited the star defenceman from the University of North Carolina. Christian Wolanin is the now the rookie in the Ottawa based organization. This remarkable young man has been playing for his university since 2015. At that moment, the Senators put their eye on him. Finally, they signed a three-year starting level contract.

This new addition comes in a great moment for the team. The Senators have been strongly criticized recently and the fans are screaming for something new. Some fresh blood could change the whole team.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

One of the most important teams on its division. The Canadiens are going through a rough patch. Every day they are forced to add new players to the injured list. The list grows and the problems for the team. The results are far from optimal and they are stuck in the bottom of the scoreboard.

The fans believe some adjustment is necessary. A clear option would be to bring new players but there has not been much discussion about recruitment. Perhaps the team will announce the changes in the summer but in the meanwhile everything remains the same.

NEW SEASON, NEW ME

If something is not working or is damaged beyond repair, it is time to get a new one. The same happen with the teams. If a roster is underperforming, the best option is to renovate wherever they can.

Some teams would rather keep the same players and keep on building the franchises. This is not a winning strategy and could end up hurting their image. Those teams that refuse to change are risking more than necessary.

It is time to take advantage of the younger players. They are healthy and more than willing to give their all in the ice. This is the attitude the teams play if they want to bring something new to the table.

The 2017/2018 has not been good for the players. Each week, more players make it to the injured list. This list includes the players that cannot get back to the ice for some weeks. The Winnipeg Jets have several players on this list. Most recently they added Dmitry Kulikov. The Russian defenceman will be out for about eight weeks.

A BRIGHT CAREER

Kulikov is only 27 years old but he is a veteran on the NHL. He played for seven seasons with Florida, the team took him for the first time in 2009. After that, he played for the Buffalo Sabres. His performance with the Sabres was not optimal. Kulikov injured his back after he was thrown against an open door. This injury kept him out of the ice for some time, he played only 47 games with the Sabres.

In 2017, despite the negative record with the Sabres, Kulikov was signed by the Winnipeg Jets. As a free agent, the Russian signed a contract for $12.99 million. He was supposed to play for three years with the Canadian team.

OLD WOUND

Kulikov went through a recovery process since his time with the Sabres. Unfortunately, on March 8 he was hurt again. On the game against New Jersey, the Winnipeg Jets took the victory home but the price to pay was high.

The medical team tried to improve Kulikov’s condition with therapy. It was not enough and soon it was announced that the defenceman required surgery to fully recover. After 62 games with the Jets, the Russian player was an important figure on the team.

SAME MISTAKES

The defenceman is not the first Jets’ player to enter the injured list. Other important figures are also out of the ice due to an injury. This kind of problems are common among the NHL players. In many cases, the players and even the staff, ignore the condition of the injuries. They take pain killers and keep playing. Not handling the problems on time will lead to permanent conditions. The players are facing consequences that will stay with them after their careers are over.

Hockey players are not the only with this problem. There has been some controversy around the injuries and how the teams turn a blind eye just to get better results. Kulikov’s injury is an example. A representative from the team said that Kulikov’s situation was a complete surprise for them. Some are wondering how honest the teams are about the condition of the players.

DESPERATE MEASURES

After many years of struggle, the players are finally trying to get something back. The lawsuits against the NFL and the NHL are millionaire affairs. The leagues are facing a difficult situation because of the players they failed to protect in the first place.

The NHL is trying to get ahead of the situation. There is a new figure in the matches, the concussion spotter should determine if after a fight a player is in good enough condition to stay. Better protocols will not erase the regular injuries a player suffers in game but it could prevent permanent consequences.

Every super athlete was a rookie once. These incredible people start their training at a tender age but do not see the fruits of their effort until later on. If they live in North America, the universities will offer scholarships to keep developing their talent. Every year, the most important teams scout these institutions for young talent to bring into the leagues. Most teams have a presence on the lower divisions and the young people play there. Once they are mature enough, the athletes get promoted into the main team.

This is a common practice in sports. The teams, in the different sports, have an academy. These academies recruit athletes since they are children. With this steady flow of athletes, the teams guarantee newer and better talent for every season.

A STAR IN THE MAKING

Christian Wolanin is the new recruit for the Ottawa Senators. The defenceman had been making a career with the University of North Carolina. Ottawa Senators first showed interest in him in 2015. It was not until this year that the player decided to give his professional career a shot.

A representative of the team expressed how excited the organization was about Wolanin’s recruitment. They described him as a talented player with the right offensive skills to succeed as a professional.

THE SECRET WEAPON

If the praises from the recruiters are not enough, Wolanin has the right numbers to back the enthusiasm. Born in Detroit, Michigan, the defenceman started playing for the University of North Dakota in 2015.

Since the beginning, the coach and staff recognized he had enough talent to make a name of himself. Wolanin is currently the top scorer for the University of North Dakota. He has 12 goals and 35 points to his name. His name is now next to James Patrick, the first defenceman to be lead scorer on the team.

A LEGACY

Christian is the first member of his family to play for the Ottowa Senators but he is not the first NHL player. His father, Craig Wolanin played for 13 seasons. The oldest Wolanin played the same role that his son currently plays. He also played for different teams like Toronto, Quebec, New Jersey and others.

Without a doubt, Wolanin is following his father’s footsteps. This promising player finished his team dressing the green uniform with great numbers. 22 goals and 72 points is a remarkable record for a defenceman.

CHANGE OF AIR

The Ottowa Senators are ready to welcome Wolanin. The defenceman will immediately start training with the team. Hopefully he will get to see some action in the ice this season. The 23 year old player is prepared to get into action.

Perhaps new talent is what the Ottowa Senators need. The 17/18 season has been rough for everybody but seems like they are taking the hardest blows. There has been discussion about young talent and how important it is to integrate them into the professional scene. With this recruitment, the Ottowa Senators are taking the first step into the right direction.

Athletes are no strangers to injuries. More often than not a player misses important matches due to a physical condition. These issues usually come after a bad play or movement in game. It is possible to avoid them but sometimes the injuries are inevitable.

Hockey could be considered a violent sport. Despite the protections the players wear, they are exposed to all kind of damage. Ideally, the teams would be able to replace any player that has any affection. Unfortunately, the Montreal Canadiens do not seem to be ready for this situation and it is affecting their results in the NHL.

CAREY PRICE

The franchise goaltender is an icon for the Canadiens fans. He has been with the team for several years and will be wearing the red and blue for some more. The Montreal organization is willing to pay $84 million for this player but for the 2018 season, he missed a total of 14 games.

The goalie had a concussion, the team did not said how this happened. Seems like it took place during the game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Price was replaced by Antti Niemi but this change was not enough to help the Canadiens after a poor performance during the season.

SHEA WEBER

Another tragic loss for the Canadiens, the defenseman had to undergo a foot surgery. As a result, he will miss the rest of the season. Apparently, Weber’s injury happened in the beginning of the season but he kept playing for 20 more games.

In the end, the medical team could not do anything to improve Weber’s condition. He was put on the injured list and finally it was determined he had a long way to go before he could skate again.

A BAD RECORD

No matter the sport, it is not easy to make it to a professional team. However, there is a fine line that separates the starting players from the substitutes. Two or more substitutes immediately reduce the quality of the team and the results showed it. The Montreal Canadiens are a team known for their great performance and good scores. In 2017 and part of 2018 they had been struggling.

Even before he was injured, Carey Price had the worst record of the season and his entire career. Many questions were raised about the goaltender and if he really was worth the millions the team was paying for him.

WILL THEY BE ABLE TO RECOVER?

The players will eventually get better but the damage is already done. For the current season, not even a miracle would help the Canadiens. On their division, they are currently standing in the sixth place.

The organization has their eyes on the future. They are fully aware of the struggles the team is facing at the moment. Changes need to happen for the Canadiens to go back to the top of the scoreboards. This should be a lesson for the rest of the organizations, they need to be able to replace any player at any point.

The New Jersey Devils aren’t the most successful NHL team out there, but this nifty named team do have quite a history. The professional hockey team is based in Newark, New Jersey but originally came from Kansas City in 1974, when they were known as the Kansas City Scouts. They would move to Colorado to become the Colorado Rockies in 1976, before finally moving to their current state in 1982. What else do we know about the New Jersey Devils, though?

The New Jersey Devils

The Devils have a long-standing rivalry with the New York Rangers, as well as the Philadelphia Flyers. Their earlier years were spent trying to assemble a core squad of players who could take on the Patrick Division of the Wales Conference in the early eighties. They made it to the playoffs in 1988 but to no real glory.

For the 1993-1994 season, the Devils joined the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference and results improved immediately finishing second overall, and conference champions in 1994-1995. They would go on to become division champions three years in a row from 1995-1999, 2000-01 and 2002-03. They also were division champs in 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008-09 and 2009-10, as well as conference champions in 1999-00, 2000-01, 2002-03, and 2011-12. The story since then is rather different. As has been the case throughout the New Jersey Devils history, their success ebbs and flows.

Stanley Cup Success

The Devils currently have 3 Stanley Cup victories under their belt, to sit alongside their 5-conference championship and 9 division championship titles. The New Jersey Devils won the Stanley Cup in the 1994-1995, 1999-00 and 2002-03 seasons. They could have made it 5 were it not for defeats in 2000-01 and 2011-12 to Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings, respectively.

Since then, the Devils have enduring mixed fortunes, finishing no higher than fourth in their division (previously the Atlantic now Metropolitan divisions of the eastern conference). Last season’s disappointing finish of 8th was their lowest finish since they moved to New Jersey. This season, though, a brighter future could be on the horizon.

Current Fortunes

Although the New Jersey Devils missed out on a direct playoff spot via the Metropolitan Division, they are currently flying in the Eastern Conference Wild Card competition. Sitting top of the pile, five points clear of their nearest rivals (the Columbus Blue Jackets), and 9 points above third-placed New York Islanders, the New Jersey Devils are primed to pocket one of the two coveted wild card spots.

Having failed to make the playoffs since making the Stanley Cup final (and losing) in 2012, it is an exciting time to be a New Jersey Devils fan. They aren’t home and dry yet, and there can no doubt that a lot tougher challenges await the Devils is they acquire the wild-card spot and proceed to the playoffs, but following a handful of dismal and dreary years, things are starting to look up for this NHL team.